Prognosis in retinoblastoma: influence of histopathologic characteristics

One hundred twenty-eight cases of retinoblastoma were reviewed. The mean age at diagnosis, presenting signs, clinical, and pathological features were investigated. Patients with bilateral tumors presented earlier and had a higher mortality rate than those with unilateral tumors. Histopathological features such as calcification, seeding into the vitreous, and the degree of differentiation had no significant effect on prognosis. There was no predominance of exophytic, endophytic, or mixed tumor growth patterns. Extension of the tumor to extraretinal structures increased the mortality rate significantly.